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Have you ever been stranded with somewhere to go but without transport? Unfortunately it has happened to me too many times both in the UK and in France. The following conversation is taken from real life so I have transcribed it for students. This is real French.
Taxi: Taxi. Bonjour. Vous: Bonjour pouvez-vous envoyer un taxi à la gare de Nomansland s’il vous plaît? Tous les trains ont été annulés et j’ai besoin d’aller au travail. Taxi: Oui c’est pour quand? Vous: Tout de suite si possible. Je travaille dans le centre de Leeds. Taxi. Pas de probème Un taxi sera avec vous dans 5 minutes. Vous. Merci beaucoup. Je peux payer le chauffeur par carte bancaire? Taxi: Non, mais le chauffeur peut vous déposer à un distributeur de billets en route. Ça vous convient? Vous: Oui bien sûr, merci. English Taxi: Hello? You: Hello can you send a taxi to Nomansland train station please? All the trains have been cancelled and I need to get to work. Taxi: Yes. When is it for? You: Immediately if possible. I work in the centre of Leeds. Taxi: No problem, a taxi will be with you in 5 minutes. You. Thank you very much. Can I pay the driver by card? Taxi: No, but the driver can drop you at a cash machine on the way. Is that all right? You: Yes thank you of course Since the arrival of the coronavirus (COVID-19) we find ourselves living in strange and unpredictable times. A walk with the dog, or a jog around the garden or village has become the highlight of the day. School is out for most students and it’s not even summer. Luckily teachers have access to modern technology so that they can set work, mark it and offer feedback to their students. Certainly my son is dismayed by the large amount of work he is being set by his teachers, but just because school and many exams have been paused the learning doesn’t stop. Working only at home and online may be new to many school children, but tutors like myself have been offering a mixture of face-to-face and online lessons for several years now. In fact it is fascinating to be able to reach such a wide range of students, from different regions and educational backgrounds via online tutoring using tools such as Skype, where you can share documents, screens, notes and talk at the same time. Some people may still prefer the traditional face-to-face setting for tutorials, but there are definitely some advantages of online tutoring, especially in communication based subjects like modern languages or English. 1. Firstly you save on travel time and travel expenses. This means that it is sometimes easier to extend the lesson time if necessary. 2. The webcam can be turned on and off as the student pleases. 3. Both tutor and student are working from the familiarity of their own surroundings. 4. It is easy to send documents and links via Skype, or a pdf copy of the lesson notes. 5. Lessons can be done from any location; or even on holiday (if you are really keen). 6. It’s easier to find a tutor who specialises in certain examinations or specialist subjects. 7. There is no chance of catching a cold, flu or any other virus! |